Health Benefits and Risks of Caffeine

Health Benefits And Risks Of Caffeine

Coffee, black and green tea, chocolate, cola, certain energy drinks, and even some cold and headache medicines all contain a similar stimulating compound. The common stimulant is caffeine and it is becoming more publicized for both its health benefits and risks in medical and sports circles. According to Dr. Tedd Mitchell, medical columnist for USA Weekend Magazine (March 11, 2007), "Suffice it to say, there is no clear-cut answer on what effects caffeine may have on the body's health." This article will examine some of the positives and negative effects of coffee, tea or that chocolate candy bar on athletes and non-athletes. Caffeine Benefits

Dr. Mitchell mentions that stimulants such as caffeine "elevate heart rate and blood pressure, can make us more alert and may even improve performance in certain sports. In fact, the International Olympic Committee, in its doping regulations, has in the past included caffeine on its list of restricted agents." He adds that "medical literature is filled with contradictory information" concerning caffeine's health effects. "Some studies suggest that large amounts of coffee may reduce the risk of conditions such as gall bladder disease. Others show it to have a detrimental effect on things like sleep, blood pressure and bone density." Meanwhile, USA Weekend Magazine's nutrition columnist and author Jean Carper cites Japanese research showing that "drinkers of 1or 2 cups of coffee a day are 30 per cent less apt than non-coffee drinkers to have liver cancer," and that coffee "may lessen liver damage from, among other things, too much alcohol." Carper mentions that the researchers credit the caffeine and the antioxidants in coffee for the protective effect on the liver.